Davanti become Tarmac Tyre partner in Mini Rally Challenge 2025

Davanti Tyres, one of the UK’s leading mid-range tyre brands has announced a new multi-year partnership with the Mini Rally Challenge Championship, naming the Protoura Race as the control tyre for asphalt events.

It will be Davanti and Protoura Race’s first Road Rally series after being approved for entry into the category by the Blue Book in 2025. This new partnership aligns with two core values of the Mini Rally Challenge Championship in accessibility and fairness. 

It’s essential to provide competitors with competitively priced, widely available tyres and ensure that all racers use identical, high-performance tyres to maintain a level playing field on track. In line with this racing model, the Protoura Race high performance tyre, has been selected as it has been specifically designed by Davanti to excel on the track. 

Its semi-slick tread design ensures a combination of excellent dry grip and control in the wet without compromising speed, making it a successful formula for the track. Also the tyres key design features incorporate a directional tread pattern to provide predictable control in all conditions. Whilst increased carcass strength guarantees direct feedback to the driver giving overall control under high cornering forces experienced on racetracks.

Sean Maddocks, Davanti Tyres Sales Director for UK & Ireland, says, “Having enjoyed successful motorsport partnerships in 2025 with the l  Mini Challenge Clubsport Championship and the Suzuki Swift Challenge, we’re thrilled to now be working with the Mini Rally Challenge Championship. 

“During the current 2025 racing season, the Protoura Race tyre, has been tested successfully in a racing environment and well-received amongst race competitors. As part of the partnership, Davanti tyres will be supplied by BMTR, working in conjunction with Slicks for fitting at race events, making it simple for the drivers.

“Thanks to the proven performance and the exceptional longevity of our product, we're providing drivers with the opportunity to save on tyre costs with no sacrifice on lap times – a valuable combination for the competitors on track. 

“Our motorsport partnerships are centred around making motorsport more accessible from a financial standpoint, so it’s great to be working with the Mini Rally Challenge Championship who fully embody this aim while encouraging drivers to take part in what is a very exciting competition.”

Guy Butler, Director of Mini Rally Challenge Ltd, adds: “One of the core values of the Championship is accessibility plus providing favourably priced and easy to source tyres to allow both newcomers and seasoned competitors alike to compete alongside each other, and to remove the cost burden and stress that tyre selection brings. 

“Another core value is fairness with all competitors using identical high performing tyres that removes doubts over competitive advantage and we are delighted to be entering the 2026 championship with Davanti.

“It was an easy choice for the asphalt rounds as the tyre has already proven its capabilities in the R53 and R50 classes in the Mini Challenge Clubsport circuit racing championship. We have also witnessed the tyres in action at Silverstone and on an R53 where they have stood up Impressively.”

The new partnership starts in January 2026.